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Caroline took her first dance steps at 5 years old in expressive dance - a mix of jazz, classical, and modern dance.
One evening in May 2003, she marvels at the Riverdance show; it's love at first sight. The rhythmic music and the drumming of the steps, like a heartbeat, are in perfect harmony and draws her deeply. That's when her love affair with Irish dance and music began. She then enrolls in Irish step dancing classes and lives her dream during 7 years.
More than 10 years ago, Caroline began set & céilí dancing by taking lessons at Siamsa and going to the Siamsa dance evenings, which she pursues to this day.
It is on the first beat of the music that feet get carried away and dancers dash forward, forgetting the passing of time.
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Website: Cécile Delage - Harpiste
There are few instruments as closely associated with Ireland as the harp. It is the national emblem of the country, appearing on the coat of arms and the Presidential Seal (not to mention on every bottle, can and pint glass of Guinness beer!) The song of the harp was revered by kings and chieftains, and the instrument found its way into Irish mythology.
Less than a dozen Celtic harps survive from the medieval period. The oldest is the one on which the national emblem of Ireland is based: the Trinity College Harp. Also known as the Brian Boru or O'Neill harp, this 15th century Irish harp is on display in the Long Room of Trinity College, Dublin.
Cécile Delage is from Toulouse, France. She has been playing classical and celtic music for several years. After completing a bachelor's degree in musicology, she came to Montreal and earned her Master's degree in classical harp at the University of Montreal. She currently plays with the Montreal Youth Symphonic Orchestra and the Université de Montréal Orchestra.
In summer 2010, Cécile discovered the wonderful complexity of Irish music when she took part in the Festival International de Musique Universitaire in Belfort, France. She was then fortunate to benefit from an intership in Limerick, Ireland with famed composer and performer Janet Harbison. She currently plays Irish, Breton and Quebec music with her partner, François-Xavier Dueymes.
Photo by Brad Hurley
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The tin whistle is a great instrument to start off an adventure in Irish traditional music. It is a great way to learn tunes and start to be able to play along with others.
The whistle has only six holes and Philippe will explain the instrument in a way that will have you playing a tune in no time. He may even let you in on the secrets behind his famous long A-rolls. Seriously, this is a great (inexpensive) fipple flute that will lead you into the glorious world of traditional music... and you will have plenty of company!
Philippe has been playing traditional Irish music on the tin whistle since 2002 and on the flute since 2005. He learned from Brad Hurley, and refined his skills with Debbie Quigley and Grey Larsen. In 2003, he attended the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Ireland. He has performed on stage in Switzerland and Spain with the Quebecois dance troup Reel & Macadam. He is also a regular musician in the Siamsa Céilí band.
Philippe also plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bodhran, and he also loves set and ceili dancing. Philippe performs for community events and charitable organizations, and you will often find him enjoying a lively session. Slaínte !
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My name is Miriam Ní Dhuinn. I am a primary school teacher from the west of Ireland. I hold a B.Ed and a master’s degree in Irish Studies (History & Literature) with a minor in Irish translation. I am passionate about Irish and inspiring others to learn our beautiful native language.
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Ros Williams grew up in Australia, where there is a very strong representation of Irish immigration and involvement in Celtic music. She studied music at university, majoring in Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Education. She has trained in voice and other instruments and has taught music to a very wide age-range, both in schools and privately.
Ros has lived in Montreal for over 10 years and sings in two women’s choirs; always keen to expand her repertoire and compose new arrangements.
The Siamsa Singers love to sing traditional and modern Irish songs, both in English and Irish (with phonetic help given). We learn in lots of ways:
- to develop our vocal technique,
- to sing in harmony,
- to increase our repertoire, and
- better understand the musical aspects and historical background to our songs,
- all, while developing our skills as an ensemble.
We have lots of fun together, so we encourage you to join this wonderful group of singers!
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Facebook: Five Guys Named Dave
Émile grew up in a musical family and started playing traditional Irish music on fiddle when he was 11. He soon picked up playing mandolin and tenor banjo which became his main instrument. When he was 18 he became a staple of the weekly Oak Tree session in Calgary, playing traditional Irish music on stage every week until the pub closed 2020.
Émile has played various shows and dances in Calgary focusing mainly on trad. He moved to Saskatoon during the covid pandemic and soon began performing on fiddle with the old time string band Five Guys Named Dave, eventually playing the main stage of the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festival.
He currently stays in Montréal where he plays in jams and sessions practically every day and can generally be found holding a fiddle and having a wonderful time.
Photo: Sylvain Lair, 2016
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Bandcamp: À l'orée du bois by Soulwood
Willy was involved with music at an early age, growing up in a house where there was no shortage of musicians or instruments. After studying jazz in college, he made his way back to folk and traditional music exploring mainly Québecois and Celtic repertoire. He plays electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, 4 and 5 string banjos and the irish flute. Over the years he has played mostly local venues with other musicians and bands or solo. His approach to music is based on learning by ear and favoring knowing the pieces by heart to better concentrate on the rythm and groove.
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Website: Ardglen Bodhrans
Website: The Irish Rovers
Born in Belfast Northern Ireland, Fred Graham has over 50 years of percussion experience in playing, teaching and adjudicating competitions. He is a bodhran maker and teacher and brings with him extensive experience in traditional music percussion. He has a strong background in Irish and Scottish music, having competed in accordion and pipe bands in Ireland and here in Canada.
Fred’s skill is further augmented by many years of drumming with a Montreal jazz band. He is a keen session player, and was a percussionist with two well-known Montreal based, traditional Quebec dance troupes, with whom he has performed and toured extensively. Fred has also toured as percussionist with “The Irish Rovers” band since 2007. And he is the strong beat that has been driving the Siamsa Céilí Band for years!
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Website: Brother Steve's Tin Whistle Pages
YouTube: C#/D Accordion Channel
Steve Jones has taught many classes in fiddle, tin whistle and accordion at Siamsa since the early 1990s. He began playing fiddle over 40 years ago in London, where he was inspired and encouraged by Danny Meehan, Michael Hynes and other luminaries of what was then the world Irish music capital.
Steve also plays whistle and accordion, and after a 30-year break from fiddle playing (the result of focal dystonia in his bowing arm) he is now back playing and teaching his beloved first instrument.
He has played in many bands over the years. Currently he leads the Siamsa Montreal Ceili Band and forms part of the duo Istorlet with pianist and singer Marie-Christine Lance.
Steve has also published books with the Donegal singer, musician and storyteller Packie Manus Byrne, including A Dossan of Heather, a tunebook compiled in collaboration with flute player Jean Duval.
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Website: Taobh na Mara Céilí Band
Bandcamp: Casadh na Taoide by Hannah Collins
Hannah Collins is a piano and concertina player, teacher and composer from Skibbereen, west Cork. She is a UCC alumnus, having graduated with a BA in Irish and Music in 2019, and a BMus in 2020. Throughout her time in UCC she was granted a Quercus Creative Performing Arts Scholarship, and she was also awarded the Donal 'Doc' Gleeson award for performance and the Mary V. Hart Award for academic achievement. She has also won many solo piano competitions at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann over the years, culminating with the Senior Piano title in 2019.
Following her degree, she completed an MA in Irish Traditional Music at Maynooth University, where she released her debut solo piano EP, Casadh na Taoide. In 2021 Hannah was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to teach Irish at the University of Montana for a year.
Hannah regularly performs and teaches at festivals at home and abroad and has recently played piano with Cherish the Ladies, as well as being a member of the All-Ireland winning Taobh na Mara Céilí Band.
Photo by Griffin Alcorn
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Born in Montreal, Mayu grew up in a musical family and has experience in a variety of musical genres, including classical and Irish traditional music. She received her Bachelor’s degree in music in 2020, and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Musicology at McGill University.
Coming from a classical background, Mayu has over 20 years of experience in playing the violin and the viola. She began attending the Siamsa sessions in 2019 as a way of connecting to her Irish heritage, and quickly fell in love with the musical style. She is a wonderful part of the Siamsa community, supporting events like Porchfest and the Highland Games. Mayu is also a volunteer on the Siamsa Board of directors.